RUNNING FROM A TYPHOON AND GOD'S PLAN
Recently the Lord brought back an incident that happened while I was on active duty in the Navy. We were going to sail from the Philippine Islands to San Francisco harbor. We upped anchor and left Subic Bay and headed north through the Luzon straits and then in to the South Pacific. This was an area where some US Navy ships had been sunk by tropical storms/typhoons in WWII. We had the course set for San Francisco harbor but we were also trying to avoid a Typhoon. We were forced off our course, forced to leave our set course so as to be on the outer edge of the the typhoon. For several hours ( sure seemed longer ) we were tossed around like a cork by the wind and ocean waves, and we were a large vessel. Eventually, we left the typhoon behind and with the help of the technology we had, ie, compass and radio weather broadcasts, we were able to come back to our original course and sailed on to the good ol' USA.
The Lord showed me that He has a plan for me, and for each of us, but the devil tries to get us off course. He buffets us and tosses us around so as to confuse and discourage us.
While we trust in the Lord and put ourselves in his care he will see us through. However, sometimes we allow the devil to keep us distracted and confused about what the Lord wants us to do.
Pay attention to your compass, The Bible, and to the weather forecasts, the Holy Spirit, and you can stay on course.
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Saturday, December 13, 2014
Wednesday, March 5, 2014
WAITING IN EXPECTATION
This morning as I was praying and reading I turned to Psalm 5. It spoke clearly to me. I was praying, sighing, and crying out to God. See what it spoke:
"Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
Now I am WAITING IN EXPECTATION. He heard me and He is moving on my behalf.
"Give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my sighing. Listen to my cry for help, my King and my God, for to you I pray. In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation."
Now I am WAITING IN EXPECTATION. He heard me and He is moving on my behalf.
Sunday, March 2, 2014
THOSE CLAY POTS
The pots. Six pots, set off to the side. I wonder if we have ever really thought about the pots? Here's Jesus at a wedding. His disciples are there. His mother is there, and as the wedding progresses, they've run out of wine.
One thing we have to know is that in this time period,, to run out of wine during a wedding celebration was a major insult to all the guests. It would heap dishonor on the host, and more than likely the host was a friend of Jesus because...well, Jesus was invited, and you don't invite just anybody to a wedding. So here's Jesus and his friends, and it becomes clear to Mary that they have run out of wine.
Mary, on faith goes to Jesus. "They've run out of wine..." Jesus puts her off. "It's not my time." but Mary, her faith in what Jesus can do never wavering, looks to the servants and says, "Do whatever He tells you." And what does Jesus Say? "Take those pots, and fill them with water."
Take THOSE pots? But what were those pots? If you're like me, you think they were pitchers just like you would normally think you would put wine into. Ahh, but that's not what it says. It says, "Now there were six stone water pots set there for the Jewish custom of purification..." Those pots would have been large, maybe even about 30-40 gallon pots.The Jewish custom of purification. That means those pots are there for the Jews to wash themselves, to purify themselves in order to be clean enough to share a meal.
Notice. Jesus did not say, 'Take them and wash them with Dawn detergent and then go out and fill them with water.' In fact, He doesn't even mention washing them out first. He just says, 'Take them and fill them with water.'
What does this mean to us today>? It's simple. We are not required to get our act together and then go to God. We are those dirty pots (see 2 Corinthians 4:7), yes, we are those dirt pots - full of filth of our lives, even the filth of our own attempts to wash our sinfulness away with our religions, our rules and our rituals (un-biblical).
Those rituals can never save you. Even if you live by the rule you are still unclean. You still need to wash and to be washed. And then Jesus comes along and without requiring you to get clean first, He points to you and says, 'Fill that one with my water.' The living water that He refers to later on. 'Fill her with my water. Fill him with my water.'
And then, as if that's not enough, He tells the servants to take some of what has come out of those pots to the head waiter who will judge the wine, the fruit that comes from these dirty, filthy, stinking pots. Think about that. All these people have washed themselves in these pots, and now these servants are going to take what they know was dirty water only minutes before to the ultimate judge to seek his approval to share it with the others. Those servants had to be fearful for their very lives!
Isn't this just like you and me? We are those pots, once filthy and dirty, but now not only filled with the living water, but filled with the wine of a new life. And the fruit that has come out of us is now taken to the ultimate Judge. Does the Judge take one sip and spit it out in horror at our filth? No...you know the end of the story. He praises the bridegroom for saving the best wine for last.
Jesus is the new wine. He is the best, and He wants to fill you right now. Not when you get your act cleaned up, not when you've gotten yourself presentable (by your own standards). Right now. He is standing here calling you to be filled with His new wine. The question is: Will you let Him do it, will you do whatever He says, or are you still going to try to do it on your own? It's your choice.
Later on I want to talk about those servants doing their daily routine and what they got to be a part of.
Be filled!
With you on this journey He has set us on.
Troy
One thing we have to know is that in this time period,, to run out of wine during a wedding celebration was a major insult to all the guests. It would heap dishonor on the host, and more than likely the host was a friend of Jesus because...well, Jesus was invited, and you don't invite just anybody to a wedding. So here's Jesus and his friends, and it becomes clear to Mary that they have run out of wine.
Mary, on faith goes to Jesus. "They've run out of wine..." Jesus puts her off. "It's not my time." but Mary, her faith in what Jesus can do never wavering, looks to the servants and says, "Do whatever He tells you." And what does Jesus Say? "Take those pots, and fill them with water."
Take THOSE pots? But what were those pots? If you're like me, you think they were pitchers just like you would normally think you would put wine into. Ahh, but that's not what it says. It says, "Now there were six stone water pots set there for the Jewish custom of purification..." Those pots would have been large, maybe even about 30-40 gallon pots.The Jewish custom of purification. That means those pots are there for the Jews to wash themselves, to purify themselves in order to be clean enough to share a meal.
Notice. Jesus did not say, 'Take them and wash them with Dawn detergent and then go out and fill them with water.' In fact, He doesn't even mention washing them out first. He just says, 'Take them and fill them with water.'
What does this mean to us today>? It's simple. We are not required to get our act together and then go to God. We are those dirty pots (see 2 Corinthians 4:7), yes, we are those dirt pots - full of filth of our lives, even the filth of our own attempts to wash our sinfulness away with our religions, our rules and our rituals (un-biblical).
Those rituals can never save you. Even if you live by the rule you are still unclean. You still need to wash and to be washed. And then Jesus comes along and without requiring you to get clean first, He points to you and says, 'Fill that one with my water.' The living water that He refers to later on. 'Fill her with my water. Fill him with my water.'
And then, as if that's not enough, He tells the servants to take some of what has come out of those pots to the head waiter who will judge the wine, the fruit that comes from these dirty, filthy, stinking pots. Think about that. All these people have washed themselves in these pots, and now these servants are going to take what they know was dirty water only minutes before to the ultimate judge to seek his approval to share it with the others. Those servants had to be fearful for their very lives!
Isn't this just like you and me? We are those pots, once filthy and dirty, but now not only filled with the living water, but filled with the wine of a new life. And the fruit that has come out of us is now taken to the ultimate Judge. Does the Judge take one sip and spit it out in horror at our filth? No...you know the end of the story. He praises the bridegroom for saving the best wine for last.
Jesus is the new wine. He is the best, and He wants to fill you right now. Not when you get your act cleaned up, not when you've gotten yourself presentable (by your own standards). Right now. He is standing here calling you to be filled with His new wine. The question is: Will you let Him do it, will you do whatever He says, or are you still going to try to do it on your own? It's your choice.
Later on I want to talk about those servants doing their daily routine and what they got to be a part of.
Be filled!
With you on this journey He has set us on.
Troy
Monday, February 24, 2014
DIN'T LET THE DEVIL KEEP YOU IN BONDAGE
Whatever is in your past, whatever you have done - and the devil keeps throwing it up in your face (lying, debt, fear, hatred, anger, unforgiveness, bitterness, pornography, etc.), whatever it is, you need to know that God saw the whole thing. He has seen our whole life. He wants you to know that He loves you and that your are forgiven. He's just wondering how long you will let the devil make a slave of you. The great thing about God is that when you ask for forgiveness, He not only forgives you, but He forgets.
Remember that is is by God's Grace and Mercy that we are saved.
Remember that is is by God's Grace and Mercy that we are saved.
Saturday, February 22, 2014
WORSHIP
So, I believe that we have established that Praise is different from Worship. They are two different things. Praise is something we do as an outward expression. Worship is something that goes on in our hearts and is not necessarily displayed outwardly. However, it can be, through the expression of words, song, bowing down, etc...that lead us into His presence. To quote David Wilkerson again, "...worship cannot be learned! It is a spontaneous outbreak, the act of a heart overwhelmed by a revelation of God's glory and His incredible love."
I'm going to wind up this posting on Praise and Worship. However, I know that this will be an ongoing series of revelation in my life. I'm going to share some thoughts and quotes here and believe that the Lord will confirm the revelation in your heart as He has in mine.
I am of the opinion that we should separate the phrase Praise and Worship from any musical connotation. While music is an awesome gift from God and a wonderful way to express our love for Him, Praise and Worship are not musical terms.
Pastor Jack Hayford, shared how the song, "Majesty" came into being. I copied this from his site, www.jackhayford.org. "So powerfully did the sense of Christ Jesus royalty, dignity, and majesty fill my heart; I seemed to feel something new of what it meant to be His! The accomplished triumph of His Cross has not only unlocked us from the chains of our own bondage and restored us to fellowship with the Father, but He has unfolded to us a life of authority over sin and hell and raised us to partnership with Him in His Throne - now! He is fully worthy. "Majesty" is also a statement of the fact that our worship, when begotten in spirit and in truth, can align us with His Throne in such a way that His Kingdom and authority flows to us - to overflow us, free us, and channel through us."
So much more in my file that could be shared but let me add two more things here. Look at the choruses of these Worship songs.
"WHEN I LOOK INTO YOUR HOLINESS" by Wayne and Cathy Perrin. "The reason I live is to worship you."
"COME LET US WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN" by Dave Doherty. "Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our God and Maker. For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hands."
"HERE I AM TO WORSHIP" by Chris Tomlin. "Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that you're my God. You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me."
I end with this from a friend and fellow pastor. Using the illustration of our triune being and the Tabernacle or Temple, showing the Seven Steps to Worship.
FLESH - Symbolic of the Outer Court
*Door - Flesh enters through the Door - Jesus
*Altar - Recognizing the Blood sacrifice for our sins
*Fire Laver - The Holy Ghost, washing of water by the Word.
SOUL - Symbolic of the Holy Place or Inner Court
*Show Bread - The Word or Jesus revealed
*Candlestick - Anointing, fresh oil daily, and wicks trimmed, the revealed Word illuminated
*Alter of Incense - Our Praise is a sweet savor unto God
SPIRIT - Enters the Holy of Holies
*Worship - God is light, total transparency of ourselves
I encourage you to consider these verses on Worship. Romans 12:1; Genesis 24:25-27; John 4:23-25.
With this I encourage you to do your own study of Praise and Worship. Let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what it is that He wants you to glean. But more than that, Praise Him at all times and in all places and Worship Him in your inner most being.
This study has been fun, encouraging, uplifting, enlightening, and has brought about within me a strong desire to Praise and Worship our awesome, powerful, loving, etc., Heavenly Father.
Your fellow traveler on this Journey.
Troy
I'm going to wind up this posting on Praise and Worship. However, I know that this will be an ongoing series of revelation in my life. I'm going to share some thoughts and quotes here and believe that the Lord will confirm the revelation in your heart as He has in mine.
I am of the opinion that we should separate the phrase Praise and Worship from any musical connotation. While music is an awesome gift from God and a wonderful way to express our love for Him, Praise and Worship are not musical terms.
Pastor Jack Hayford, shared how the song, "Majesty" came into being. I copied this from his site, www.jackhayford.org. "So powerfully did the sense of Christ Jesus royalty, dignity, and majesty fill my heart; I seemed to feel something new of what it meant to be His! The accomplished triumph of His Cross has not only unlocked us from the chains of our own bondage and restored us to fellowship with the Father, but He has unfolded to us a life of authority over sin and hell and raised us to partnership with Him in His Throne - now! He is fully worthy. "Majesty" is also a statement of the fact that our worship, when begotten in spirit and in truth, can align us with His Throne in such a way that His Kingdom and authority flows to us - to overflow us, free us, and channel through us."
So much more in my file that could be shared but let me add two more things here. Look at the choruses of these Worship songs.
"WHEN I LOOK INTO YOUR HOLINESS" by Wayne and Cathy Perrin. "The reason I live is to worship you."
"COME LET US WORSHIP AND BOW DOWN" by Dave Doherty. "Come let us worship and bow down. Let us kneel before the Lord our God and Maker. For He is our God and we are the people of His pasture and the sheep of His hands."
"HERE I AM TO WORSHIP" by Chris Tomlin. "Here I am to worship. Here I am to bow down. Here I am to say that you're my God. You're altogether lovely, altogether worthy, altogether wonderful to me."
I end with this from a friend and fellow pastor. Using the illustration of our triune being and the Tabernacle or Temple, showing the Seven Steps to Worship.
FLESH - Symbolic of the Outer Court
*Door - Flesh enters through the Door - Jesus
*Altar - Recognizing the Blood sacrifice for our sins
*Fire Laver - The Holy Ghost, washing of water by the Word.
SOUL - Symbolic of the Holy Place or Inner Court
*Show Bread - The Word or Jesus revealed
*Candlestick - Anointing, fresh oil daily, and wicks trimmed, the revealed Word illuminated
*Alter of Incense - Our Praise is a sweet savor unto God
SPIRIT - Enters the Holy of Holies
*Worship - God is light, total transparency of ourselves
I encourage you to consider these verses on Worship. Romans 12:1; Genesis 24:25-27; John 4:23-25.
With this I encourage you to do your own study of Praise and Worship. Let the Holy Spirit reveal to you what it is that He wants you to glean. But more than that, Praise Him at all times and in all places and Worship Him in your inner most being.
This study has been fun, encouraging, uplifting, enlightening, and has brought about within me a strong desire to Praise and Worship our awesome, powerful, loving, etc., Heavenly Father.
Your fellow traveler on this Journey.
Troy
Sunday, February 2, 2014
MOSES WORSHIPED
I got this over email just this week and it fits right in with my studies on the difference between Praise and Worship. I share this from the late David Wilkerson written before his death in 2011. This is the whole devotion as he wrote it.
When Moses saw the revelation of God's glory - that He is good, loving, caring, gracious, forgiving - he quickly fell to his knees and worshiped "Moses made haste, bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped" (Exodus 34:8).
The revelation of God's nature overwhelmed this man. He saw how merciful, long-suffering and patient God is with His children, including stiff-necked people, idolaters and those who grieve Him. Moses was so stirred by this revelation that he ran out from behind the rock, fell down and worshiped Him!
It is important to note that this is the first mention ever of Moses worshiping. Prior to this revelation of God's glory, we find Moses praying and interceding, weeping and pleading with God for Israel, talking with Him face to face. We hear him singing the Lord's praises on the victory side of the Red Sea and calling on the Lord at the bitter waters of Marah. And we hear his desperate cry to God at Rephidim, when the people were ready to stone him for not providing water. But his is the first time we read the words, "Moses worshiped."
I believe this one verse tells us much about the church today. It says a Christian can pray diligently without ever really worshiping. Indeed, it's possible to be a prayer warrior and intercessor and still not be a worshiper of God. You can plead for your unsaved children, pray for the needs of an entire church, be holy and meek in seeking God's burden - and yet never truly worship Him!
I don't want to add to the multitude of definitions of what it means to worship. There are already too many books published on the various techniques of worship. But, in short, I will say this: worship cannot be learned! It is a spontaneous outbreak, the act of a heart overwhelmed by a revelation of God's glory and His incredible love.
Worship is a response of gratitude. It recognizes how we should have been destroyed by our sin long ago, incurring the full wrath of God for all our failures and faults but, instead, God came to us with the powerful revelation, "I still love you!"
When Moses saw the revelation of God's glory - that He is good, loving, caring, gracious, forgiving - he quickly fell to his knees and worshiped "Moses made haste, bowed his head toward the earth, and worshiped" (Exodus 34:8).
The revelation of God's nature overwhelmed this man. He saw how merciful, long-suffering and patient God is with His children, including stiff-necked people, idolaters and those who grieve Him. Moses was so stirred by this revelation that he ran out from behind the rock, fell down and worshiped Him!
It is important to note that this is the first mention ever of Moses worshiping. Prior to this revelation of God's glory, we find Moses praying and interceding, weeping and pleading with God for Israel, talking with Him face to face. We hear him singing the Lord's praises on the victory side of the Red Sea and calling on the Lord at the bitter waters of Marah. And we hear his desperate cry to God at Rephidim, when the people were ready to stone him for not providing water. But his is the first time we read the words, "Moses worshiped."
I believe this one verse tells us much about the church today. It says a Christian can pray diligently without ever really worshiping. Indeed, it's possible to be a prayer warrior and intercessor and still not be a worshiper of God. You can plead for your unsaved children, pray for the needs of an entire church, be holy and meek in seeking God's burden - and yet never truly worship Him!
I don't want to add to the multitude of definitions of what it means to worship. There are already too many books published on the various techniques of worship. But, in short, I will say this: worship cannot be learned! It is a spontaneous outbreak, the act of a heart overwhelmed by a revelation of God's glory and His incredible love.
Worship is a response of gratitude. It recognizes how we should have been destroyed by our sin long ago, incurring the full wrath of God for all our failures and faults but, instead, God came to us with the powerful revelation, "I still love you!"
Saturday, February 1, 2014
WORSHIP IS DIFFERENT FROM PRAISE
I've spent some time on what Praise is and none on what Worship is. That is deliberate on my part as I want to establish that Praise is more an outward showing with hands raised, clapping, dancing, bowing and singing, that is, something we do.
Worship on the other hand is something much deeper. It is where we are offering our bodies, our selves, giving them to God to have His way. Kind of like the Potter and the clay, Clay doesn't tell Potter what to do with it. No, the clay, us, in Worship are saying to God, here I am, do with me as You want to. Lord, I surrender all. All my wants, desires, needs, goals, everything I surrender to you.
A couple of quotes to illustrate: A. W. Tozer, a great pastor, was asked in 1954 what he thought would awaken the church from its complacency. His answer is doubly relevant today as it was then. "In my opinion, the great single need of the moment is that light-hearted superficial religionists be struck down with a vision of God high and lifted up, with His train filling the temple. The holy art of worship seems to have passed away like the Shekinah glory from the tabernacle. As a result,we are left to our own devices and forced to make up the lack of spontaneous worship by bringing in countless cheap and tawdry activities to hold the attention of the church people."
Warren Wiersbe offers a broad definition, "Worship is the believer's response of all that he is - mind, emotions, will, and body - to all that God is and says and does. This response has its mystical side in subjective experience, and its practical side in objective obedience to God's revealed truth. It is a loving response that is balanced by the fear of the Lord, and it is a deepening response as the believer comes to know God better." (emphasis is mine)
Jerry Solomon puts it this way, "Worship is pure adoration, the lifting up of the redeemed spirit toward God in contemplation of His holy perfection."
The late David Wilkerson wrote, "The revelation of God's glory should be the wellspring of all our worship. We ought to regularly lay claim\to His glory, testifying, "Lord, I know You're holy and just, and You won't wink at sin. But I've also seen Your glory and I know You're not out to destroy me. You don't condemn me in my struggles. On the contrary, You show me how loving and long-suffering You are toward me. I know I deserve rejection. I've failed so often I should be cast aside completely. But You reveal to me that You are merciful, gracious, tenderhearted!"
OK, so I used four quotes.
I admit that I have never really stopped to consider the importance of Worship.
Why should we Worship God? To put it simply, we should Worship Him because of who He is - God. In Revelation 4 and 5 we see some descriptions that should help us. He is "the only God, the highest, the Lord God, the Heavenly King, the Almighty God and Father, the Holy One". "in Worship we simply tell God the truth about Himself."
Jonathan Edwards, American pastor, philosopher, theologian of the 18th century, tells of an experience of worship during a time of contemplation and prayer. He sought to focus on God, and God responded in a dramatic way. "The person of Christ appeared ineffably excellent with an excellency great enough to swallow up all thought and conception . . . which continued near as I can judge, about an hour, which kept me the greater part of the time in a flood of tears and weeping aloud".
Is there a difference between Praise and Worship? Praise is something we do, while Worship is "a deepening response as the believer comes to know God better."
I know I've spent time on quotes, but I feel that it is important to see what others are saying about the subject of Worship.
I'll cover more in my next post. Leave a comment so others can be in on our 'conversation'.
May you know God better as you study His Word for yourself. May you have that "deepening response as you come to know Him better". May your response be what Paul said in Phil 3:10, "I want to know Christ..." to have an intimate and deepening knowledge of Him.
Your fellow traveler
Worship on the other hand is something much deeper. It is where we are offering our bodies, our selves, giving them to God to have His way. Kind of like the Potter and the clay, Clay doesn't tell Potter what to do with it. No, the clay, us, in Worship are saying to God, here I am, do with me as You want to. Lord, I surrender all. All my wants, desires, needs, goals, everything I surrender to you.
A couple of quotes to illustrate: A. W. Tozer, a great pastor, was asked in 1954 what he thought would awaken the church from its complacency. His answer is doubly relevant today as it was then. "In my opinion, the great single need of the moment is that light-hearted superficial religionists be struck down with a vision of God high and lifted up, with His train filling the temple. The holy art of worship seems to have passed away like the Shekinah glory from the tabernacle. As a result,we are left to our own devices and forced to make up the lack of spontaneous worship by bringing in countless cheap and tawdry activities to hold the attention of the church people."
Warren Wiersbe offers a broad definition, "Worship is the believer's response of all that he is - mind, emotions, will, and body - to all that God is and says and does. This response has its mystical side in subjective experience, and its practical side in objective obedience to God's revealed truth. It is a loving response that is balanced by the fear of the Lord, and it is a deepening response as the believer comes to know God better." (emphasis is mine)
Jerry Solomon puts it this way, "Worship is pure adoration, the lifting up of the redeemed spirit toward God in contemplation of His holy perfection."
The late David Wilkerson wrote, "The revelation of God's glory should be the wellspring of all our worship. We ought to regularly lay claim\to His glory, testifying, "Lord, I know You're holy and just, and You won't wink at sin. But I've also seen Your glory and I know You're not out to destroy me. You don't condemn me in my struggles. On the contrary, You show me how loving and long-suffering You are toward me. I know I deserve rejection. I've failed so often I should be cast aside completely. But You reveal to me that You are merciful, gracious, tenderhearted!"
OK, so I used four quotes.
I admit that I have never really stopped to consider the importance of Worship.
Why should we Worship God? To put it simply, we should Worship Him because of who He is - God. In Revelation 4 and 5 we see some descriptions that should help us. He is "the only God, the highest, the Lord God, the Heavenly King, the Almighty God and Father, the Holy One". "in Worship we simply tell God the truth about Himself."
Jonathan Edwards, American pastor, philosopher, theologian of the 18th century, tells of an experience of worship during a time of contemplation and prayer. He sought to focus on God, and God responded in a dramatic way. "The person of Christ appeared ineffably excellent with an excellency great enough to swallow up all thought and conception . . . which continued near as I can judge, about an hour, which kept me the greater part of the time in a flood of tears and weeping aloud".
Is there a difference between Praise and Worship? Praise is something we do, while Worship is "a deepening response as the believer comes to know God better."
I know I've spent time on quotes, but I feel that it is important to see what others are saying about the subject of Worship.
I'll cover more in my next post. Leave a comment so others can be in on our 'conversation'.
May you know God better as you study His Word for yourself. May you have that "deepening response as you come to know Him better". May your response be what Paul said in Phil 3:10, "I want to know Christ..." to have an intimate and deepening knowledge of Him.
Your fellow traveler
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
WHAT TO DO WHEN FEELING OVERWHELMED
MANY TIMES IN LIFE WE ARE FACED WITH CIRCUMSTANCES THAT OVERWHELM US AND MAKES US WANT TO COWER IN FEAR. WHAT TO DO?
I'm borrowing some thoughts from an old friend of mine, George Magdalany, Pastor of Hope Chapel Hawthorne, CA. George and I, about the same time, went out from Hope Chapel Hermosa Beach to plant churches, he to Hawthorne, CA., and I started Hope Chapel Albuquerque, NM.
Turn to 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, the whole chapter. There was a vast army coming against Judah. King Jehoshaphat did some things that we can do when facing overwhelming odds, or a situation that seems impossible.
First he called for all of Judah to fast, then he went into the temple of the Lord and prayed.
In that prayer he first saw God exalted above everything: "O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you"(v.6). When I am (we are) faced with threatening circumstances, I (we) must see God as He really is - mightier and more powerful than the enemy. My faith will rise when I meditate on the fact that the Lord is far above all "rule and authority, power and dominion". (Eph 1:21)
Next, Jehoshaphat stood on God's promises and remembered His past faithfulness: "Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?"(v.7) We MUST see and believe and act on the fact that God is a promise keeper. If He says it in His Word, it WILL come to pass. God, who has delivered me in the past WILL deliver me now, because He doesn't change. (Mal 3:6)
Then Jehoshaphat prayed specific prayers without mincing words (vv. 10-11). He poured out his heart and trusted God to deal with the specific problem. Our prayers need to be specific and aimed directly at the problems we face. God knows our heart, so we should be honest and tell Him. Then, when we receive answers, we can give the glory to God.
Last, Jehoshaphat, admitted the situation was too much for him to deal with on his own: "For we (I) have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us (me), nor do we (I) know what to do, but our (my) eyes are upon You" (vs 12). We, men especially, think we are competent enough to deal with any situation or circumstance. However, like Jehoshaphat did, we (I) must confess our (my) dependence on the Lord, who is well able to deal with every situation we (I) face.
God provided a plan that was far above any plan that Jehoshaphat could have thought up. What was that plan? Face the enemy, praise God, whose love endures forever", and watch Him work in our (my) behalf (v21).
We (I), too, can experience victory as we (I) pray to and praise the One who is able to deliver us (me)!
This came to me while I am in what could be an overwhelming, costly, situation. I will face it, praise my heavenly Father, who loves me, and I will watch Him work and carry me through. Praise His holy name!
I'm borrowing some thoughts from an old friend of mine, George Magdalany, Pastor of Hope Chapel Hawthorne, CA. George and I, about the same time, went out from Hope Chapel Hermosa Beach to plant churches, he to Hawthorne, CA., and I started Hope Chapel Albuquerque, NM.
Turn to 2 Chronicles 20:1-30, the whole chapter. There was a vast army coming against Judah. King Jehoshaphat did some things that we can do when facing overwhelming odds, or a situation that seems impossible.
First he called for all of Judah to fast, then he went into the temple of the Lord and prayed.
In that prayer he first saw God exalted above everything: "O Lord, God of our fathers, are you not the God who is in heaven? You rule over all the kingdoms of the nations. Power and might are in your hand, and no one can withstand you"(v.6). When I am (we are) faced with threatening circumstances, I (we) must see God as He really is - mightier and more powerful than the enemy. My faith will rise when I meditate on the fact that the Lord is far above all "rule and authority, power and dominion". (Eph 1:21)
Next, Jehoshaphat stood on God's promises and remembered His past faithfulness: "Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?"(v.7) We MUST see and believe and act on the fact that God is a promise keeper. If He says it in His Word, it WILL come to pass. God, who has delivered me in the past WILL deliver me now, because He doesn't change. (Mal 3:6)
Then Jehoshaphat prayed specific prayers without mincing words (vv. 10-11). He poured out his heart and trusted God to deal with the specific problem. Our prayers need to be specific and aimed directly at the problems we face. God knows our heart, so we should be honest and tell Him. Then, when we receive answers, we can give the glory to God.
Last, Jehoshaphat, admitted the situation was too much for him to deal with on his own: "For we (I) have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us (me), nor do we (I) know what to do, but our (my) eyes are upon You" (vs 12). We, men especially, think we are competent enough to deal with any situation or circumstance. However, like Jehoshaphat did, we (I) must confess our (my) dependence on the Lord, who is well able to deal with every situation we (I) face.
God provided a plan that was far above any plan that Jehoshaphat could have thought up. What was that plan? Face the enemy, praise God, whose love endures forever", and watch Him work in our (my) behalf (v21).
We (I), too, can experience victory as we (I) pray to and praise the One who is able to deliver us (me)!
This came to me while I am in what could be an overwhelming, costly, situation. I will face it, praise my heavenly Father, who loves me, and I will watch Him work and carry me through. Praise His holy name!
Sunday, January 26, 2014
WHAT IS PRAISE?
Isn't what we do on Sunday mornings Praise and Worship? Isn't the title Praise and Worship the thing we sing? Isn't Praise the fast upbeat songs we sing first and worship the slower songs we sing last? If Praise and Worship are two different things, what is the difference? Many people like the fast upbeat songs because it gets them excited and moving, however, we do not get past praise and move into worship which is where praise should take us.
Is Sunday morning church the place that we Praise God? In answer to that turn to Psalm 150:1-6 and see where all we are to Praise God.
The English language has only one word for praise....PRAISE. However, there are 7 Hebrew words for praise -- and each give a different definition for praise. Look at these:
Hallal: "to laud [to give praise or express devotion to], boast, rave, to celebrate" - This word is used approximately one hundred times in the Old Testament.
Yadah: "to worship with extended hands, to throw out the hands" - Used over ninety times in the Old Testament. (Yad means "hand")
Barak: "to bless, to declare God the origin of power for success, prosperity, and fertility" - Used approximately seventy times in the Old Testament as praise to God.
Techillah: "to sing or laud" - It is derived from hallal and is generally accepted to mean "the singing of hallals." Used over fifty times in the Old Testament.
Zamar: "to pluck the strings of an instrument, to praise with song" - Used almost exclusively in the Psalms and occurs approximately forty times in the Old Testament.
Todah: "to extend the hands in thanksgiving, a thank-offering" - Used only a few times when translated "praise" but occurs many other times in connection with thanksgiving.
Shabach: "to commend, address in a loud tone, to shout" - This is the exclamatory form of praise in a special sense and is found only about seven times in the Old Testament.
When we look at the difference in Praise and Worship in a worship service setting Praise seems to be more of an outward thing that we do, hands raised, clapping, dancing, bowing and singing. In other words, Praise is what we do outwardly.
When we praise Him we exalt Him ("1. to raise in position, character, status, or the like; elevate 2. to glorify; praise; honor; extol). Psalm 34:1-3. When you say "Praise God," you mean "Exalt Him." You cannot put Him too high. He is the most high above all.
Also, when we praise Him we rejoice in Him. Psalm 5:11
When we praise Him we are to boast in Him. Psalm 34:1-2, again.
Another aspect of praise is that we give thanks to Him. Psalm 18:49.
Again, when we praise God we please Him. Psalm 69:30,31.
And, when we praise God we bless His name. Psalm 34: and Psalm 63:3-5
This sure is a lot of information, isn't it? Well, to be honest, I haven't shared half of what I have been studying. You could and should be reading for yourselves.
Come on, people, let's Praise the Lord God Almighty and thank Him and bless His name!
More to share and not sure exactly what will be next. This is a journey and as some of you have said, let's travel this road together.
PRAISE THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD!
Troy, a fellow traveler
By the way, each word for praise in Psalm 150 is Hallel. Look again at the meaning of hallel.
Is Sunday morning church the place that we Praise God? In answer to that turn to Psalm 150:1-6 and see where all we are to Praise God.
The English language has only one word for praise....PRAISE. However, there are 7 Hebrew words for praise -- and each give a different definition for praise. Look at these:
Hallal: "to laud [to give praise or express devotion to], boast, rave, to celebrate" - This word is used approximately one hundred times in the Old Testament.
Yadah: "to worship with extended hands, to throw out the hands" - Used over ninety times in the Old Testament. (Yad means "hand")
Barak: "to bless, to declare God the origin of power for success, prosperity, and fertility" - Used approximately seventy times in the Old Testament as praise to God.
Techillah: "to sing or laud" - It is derived from hallal and is generally accepted to mean "the singing of hallals." Used over fifty times in the Old Testament.
Zamar: "to pluck the strings of an instrument, to praise with song" - Used almost exclusively in the Psalms and occurs approximately forty times in the Old Testament.
Todah: "to extend the hands in thanksgiving, a thank-offering" - Used only a few times when translated "praise" but occurs many other times in connection with thanksgiving.
Shabach: "to commend, address in a loud tone, to shout" - This is the exclamatory form of praise in a special sense and is found only about seven times in the Old Testament.
When we look at the difference in Praise and Worship in a worship service setting Praise seems to be more of an outward thing that we do, hands raised, clapping, dancing, bowing and singing. In other words, Praise is what we do outwardly.
When we praise Him we exalt Him ("1. to raise in position, character, status, or the like; elevate 2. to glorify; praise; honor; extol). Psalm 34:1-3. When you say "Praise God," you mean "Exalt Him." You cannot put Him too high. He is the most high above all.
Also, when we praise Him we rejoice in Him. Psalm 5:11
When we praise Him we are to boast in Him. Psalm 34:1-2, again.
Another aspect of praise is that we give thanks to Him. Psalm 18:49.
Again, when we praise God we please Him. Psalm 69:30,31.
And, when we praise God we bless His name. Psalm 34: and Psalm 63:3-5
This sure is a lot of information, isn't it? Well, to be honest, I haven't shared half of what I have been studying. You could and should be reading for yourselves.
Come on, people, let's Praise the Lord God Almighty and thank Him and bless His name!
More to share and not sure exactly what will be next. This is a journey and as some of you have said, let's travel this road together.
PRAISE THE HOLY NAME OF THE LORD!
Troy, a fellow traveler
By the way, each word for praise in Psalm 150 is Hallel. Look again at the meaning of hallel.
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
PRAISE VS WORSHIP
For years I have wondered about the phrase, "PRAISE AND WORSHIP". What does that mean? Praise and Worship Band...Let's enter into Praise and Worship...Praise and Worship Music...the Praise and Worship part of the service...etc. Are they the same thing or are they two different actions? Do we do both at the same time or do we do each separately during our Sunday morning service? And do we do them only during Sunday morning service?
I'm doing some studying on this and I haven't even scratched the surface. This will be an ongoing Post as the Lord leads me deeper into His Word. And to let you know, I do not have all the answers.
WORSHIP: Everything you think, everything you say, and everything you do, reveals that which you treasure and value most in life.
You can Praise God with sin in your life, but you cannot Worship God with sin in your life.
By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, this is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15
Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. 1 Chronicles 16:8-10
Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king. 1 Chronicles 29:19-21
The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang; "He is good; His love endures forever." Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud. 2 Chronicles 5:12-14
Can you see how large the scope of what praise really is? And this only 4 verses, there are many more we can look at.
Next I want to look at the different words used in the Bible for these words. Later I want to look at the seven steps to Worship using the Tabernacle as an illustration. There are seven Hebrew words in the Old Testament for Praise and each one is a different definition for praise. Our English language has one word, praise.
Come visit again and we will continue on this Journey looking at Praise and Worship.
I'm doing some studying on this and I haven't even scratched the surface. This will be an ongoing Post as the Lord leads me deeper into His Word. And to let you know, I do not have all the answers.
WORSHIP: Everything you think, everything you say, and everything you do, reveals that which you treasure and value most in life.
You can Praise God with sin in your life, but you cannot Worship God with sin in your life.
By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, this is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name. Hebrews 13:15
Sing to Him, sing praise to Him; tell of all His wonderful acts. 1 Chronicles 16:8-10
Then David said to the whole assembly, "Praise the LORD your God." So they all praised the LORD, the God of their fathers; they bowed low and fell prostrate before the LORD and the king. 1 Chronicles 29:19-21
The trumpeters and singers joined in unison, as with one voice, to give praise and thanks to the LORD. Accompanied by trumpets, cymbals, and other instruments, they raised their voices in praise to the LORD and sang; "He is good; His love endures forever." Then the temple of the LORD was filled with a cloud. 2 Chronicles 5:12-14
Can you see how large the scope of what praise really is? And this only 4 verses, there are many more we can look at.
Next I want to look at the different words used in the Bible for these words. Later I want to look at the seven steps to Worship using the Tabernacle as an illustration. There are seven Hebrew words in the Old Testament for Praise and each one is a different definition for praise. Our English language has one word, praise.
Come visit again and we will continue on this Journey looking at Praise and Worship.
Saturday, January 18, 2014
I WANT TO KNOW HIM...REALLY KNOW HIM
A couple of months back I was teaching in Phil 3:7-11. A moving message, for me and for others. When Paul talks about everything being loss he is saying that there is nothing he wants to keep or even remember. Think about this...if you were to lose everything in your life, everything, nothing left as was with Job, would you still love and serve the Lord? Jewell Probasco shared how the Lord lead her into this test. Powerful testimony.
When Paul says he counts everything as loss he is graphic in the picture. One translation says he counts it as "Dog Dung". Another way to look at this loss is like this...when our bodies pass off waste stuff that is stuff that has no nutritional value! Our bodies can't use the stuff. That is what Paul is talking about...stuff that can do us no good.
He goes on to count it as all loss compared to knowing Jesus. The Amplified Version puts it this way: the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth and supreme advantage of knowing Jesus and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly. He continues this view in verse 10.
As I was winding up my message it became a cry of my heart - I WANT TO KNOW, TO REALLY KNOW HIM! For days, weeks, that has been the cry of my heart.
After a few days, I ran across the worship chorus ... Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord. Come and quench the thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven feed me till I want no more. Fill me up and make me whole.
Couldn't get that out of my mind for days, still there, in fact. Still along the lines of I WANT TO KNOW HIM!!
A few weeks ago, on a Sunday morning while I was suppose to be making announcements, the Holy Spirit took me over and we had a great time of quietly hanging out in His presence for about half an hour. All being preceded by the song, You are the air I breathe. I am desperate for you, I am lost with out you. Still for me the same thought, I WANT TO KNOW HIM!
I am on a journey into His presence in a way that I have never been before. It is exciting and humbling.
I want to share more as time goes on how my Lord is leading me into a closer love relationship with Him.
My next posting, I think, will be on my journey into the difference between Praise and Worship. As my friend, Jewell Probasco puts it, You can Praise God with sin in your heart. You cannot Worship God with sin in your heart.
Stay tuned and come back again soon.
I am desperate for you, Lord. Fill my cup, Lord.
Love y'all.
Troy
When Paul says he counts everything as loss he is graphic in the picture. One translation says he counts it as "Dog Dung". Another way to look at this loss is like this...when our bodies pass off waste stuff that is stuff that has no nutritional value! Our bodies can't use the stuff. That is what Paul is talking about...stuff that can do us no good.
He goes on to count it as all loss compared to knowing Jesus. The Amplified Version puts it this way: the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth and supreme advantage of knowing Jesus and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly. He continues this view in verse 10.
As I was winding up my message it became a cry of my heart - I WANT TO KNOW, TO REALLY KNOW HIM! For days, weeks, that has been the cry of my heart.
After a few days, I ran across the worship chorus ... Fill my cup Lord, I lift it up, Lord. Come and quench the thirsting of my soul. Bread of Heaven feed me till I want no more. Fill me up and make me whole.
Couldn't get that out of my mind for days, still there, in fact. Still along the lines of I WANT TO KNOW HIM!!
A few weeks ago, on a Sunday morning while I was suppose to be making announcements, the Holy Spirit took me over and we had a great time of quietly hanging out in His presence for about half an hour. All being preceded by the song, You are the air I breathe. I am desperate for you, I am lost with out you. Still for me the same thought, I WANT TO KNOW HIM!
I am on a journey into His presence in a way that I have never been before. It is exciting and humbling.
I want to share more as time goes on how my Lord is leading me into a closer love relationship with Him.
My next posting, I think, will be on my journey into the difference between Praise and Worship. As my friend, Jewell Probasco puts it, You can Praise God with sin in your heart. You cannot Worship God with sin in your heart.
Stay tuned and come back again soon.
I am desperate for you, Lord. Fill my cup, Lord.
Love y'all.
Troy
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
THE TORNADOS IN OUR LIVES
Some years ago I was traveling down the east side Oklahoma in what is known as Tornado Alley, during tornado season. The following was given to me by the Lord. I have never shared this and only just recently found the paper I wrote it all out on. Kind of hard as you drive down the road. I hope and pray that you will be blessed by it.
Tornado's happen. You don't wish for them, you don't ask for them, they happen. Not up to us. Something in the air occurs and we are victims. One takes off half the house. We call the insurance company and they come out an assess the damage and the damage is fixed. It is after all my house, I own it.
OR we can build a wall to hide that half and sit around being angry about the damage the tornado did. Blaming the tornado for half our house being unusable. Choosing to ignore. And we can be mad at God for allowing it to happen. After all, isn't He always with us? How could a loving God allow that tornado to destroy half my house.
Tornadoes happen (not our fault) and they usually happen to what belongs to us. We can only repair, rebuild, restore what belongs to us. In our lives pain, suffering, abuse, etc., happen. Not our fault, not of our choosing, didn't ask for it. We can wall off that part of our lives and act as if it doesn't exist. But it does. We can blame the tragedy for everything that happens to us afterwards. We blame it for the way we are. We can blame a person for everything that has gone wrong. And we can be mad at God (though we would never confess to that) for not being there to stop it; for not loving us enough to step in; for not making that person pay for what they did to me.
Now the hard part. No one can repair or restore what does not belong to them. No one can heal or deliver us from what is ours.
Tragedy happens. Not of our choosing.
God love us, He cares for us, He wants to deliver us, heal our hurts, our bruises caused by others. Only when we come to Him and ask Him to forgive us for not coming to Him sooner can He start the restoration of our lives. Also, He will teach us to forgive. Forgive those who caused the hurts. Only then can the restoration project be completed.
Just like a rebuilding or restoration project on a house takes time, just so His restoration project, us, will take time. The verse comes to mind in Ecclesiastes 3:11a, "He has made everything beautiful in its time...".
A home rebuilding project takes a comparatively long time. God's rebuilding project in our lives can take a long time. No one else can rush it, or demand we get over it and act as if it never happened. Others can hold our hands, support us with love and prayers, but only God can do the rebuilding.
God is the Master Craftsman. He will do the work with love and an eye to detail. Isn't it thoughtful that Jesus was a carpenter? A Master Craftsman.
Tornado's happen. You don't wish for them, you don't ask for them, they happen. Not up to us. Something in the air occurs and we are victims. One takes off half the house. We call the insurance company and they come out an assess the damage and the damage is fixed. It is after all my house, I own it.
OR we can build a wall to hide that half and sit around being angry about the damage the tornado did. Blaming the tornado for half our house being unusable. Choosing to ignore. And we can be mad at God for allowing it to happen. After all, isn't He always with us? How could a loving God allow that tornado to destroy half my house.
Tornadoes happen (not our fault) and they usually happen to what belongs to us. We can only repair, rebuild, restore what belongs to us. In our lives pain, suffering, abuse, etc., happen. Not our fault, not of our choosing, didn't ask for it. We can wall off that part of our lives and act as if it doesn't exist. But it does. We can blame the tragedy for everything that happens to us afterwards. We blame it for the way we are. We can blame a person for everything that has gone wrong. And we can be mad at God (though we would never confess to that) for not being there to stop it; for not loving us enough to step in; for not making that person pay for what they did to me.
Now the hard part. No one can repair or restore what does not belong to them. No one can heal or deliver us from what is ours.
Tragedy happens. Not of our choosing.
God love us, He cares for us, He wants to deliver us, heal our hurts, our bruises caused by others. Only when we come to Him and ask Him to forgive us for not coming to Him sooner can He start the restoration of our lives. Also, He will teach us to forgive. Forgive those who caused the hurts. Only then can the restoration project be completed.
Just like a rebuilding or restoration project on a house takes time, just so His restoration project, us, will take time. The verse comes to mind in Ecclesiastes 3:11a, "He has made everything beautiful in its time...".
A home rebuilding project takes a comparatively long time. God's rebuilding project in our lives can take a long time. No one else can rush it, or demand we get over it and act as if it never happened. Others can hold our hands, support us with love and prayers, but only God can do the rebuilding.
God is the Master Craftsman. He will do the work with love and an eye to detail. Isn't it thoughtful that Jesus was a carpenter? A Master Craftsman.
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